Sun Tanning Cancer Risks


Aside from skin type and cumulative lifetime UV-exposure, other factors can also affect your risk of damage from sunlight / tanning bed. You need to be especially careful in the sun (and definitely do not use a tanning bed) if you:

  • Were previously treated for skin cancer;
  • Have a family history of skin cancer, especially melanoma;
  • Have lots of moles, irregular moles, or large moles;
  • Have freckles and burn before tanning;
  • Have fair skin or blond, red, or light brown hair;
  • Live or vacation at high altitudes (UV–radiation increases 4% to 5% for every 1,000 feet above sea level);
  • Live or vacation in tropical or subtropical climates;
  • Work indoors all week and then get intense sun exposure on weekends;
  • Spend a lot of time outdoors;
  • Have any autoimmune disease;
  • Take medicines that suppress your immunity;
  • Have had an organ transplant;
  • Take oral contraceptives (birth control pills);
  • Take tetracycline, sulfa drugs, or certain other antibiotics;
  • Take naproxen sodium or certain other non–steroidal anti–inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
  • Take phenothiazines (major tranquilizers and anti–nausea drugs);
  • Take tricyclic antidepressants;
  • Take thiazide diuretics (medicines used for high blood pressure and some heart conditions);
  • Take sulfonylureas (a form of oral anti–diabetic medication).

People who have one or more of the above risks should read very carefully Skin Cancer Early Detection. These people should never attempt to acquire a tan via the sun/tanning bed; the results could be very dangerous or fatal.


For a tan, this group should use only a sunless tanning lotion or a self tanner.